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Archived

Avalanche Forecast

Dec 19th, 2020–Dec 20th, 2020
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be moderate
Below Treeline
1: Low
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be low
Alpine
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be considerable
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate
Alpine
4: High
The avalanche danger rating in the alpine will be high
Treeline
3: Considerable
The avalanche danger rating at treeline will be considerable
Below Treeline
2: Moderate
The avalanche danger rating below treeline will be moderate

Regions: Kananaskis.

Sheltered areas at treeline are your best bet for good skiing. The alpine has seen better days, it's looking pretty wind blasted. Best to avoid it for awhile.

Confidence

High -

Weather Forecast

Snow is coming! Snow is expected to start around midnight and bring about 12cm by Sunday evening. If that wasn't enough, even more is coming for Monday afternoon. I won't say how much though...don't want to scare it off. As the snow plays through on Sunday temps will fall to -12 by evening. Winds will continue to be very strong in the alpine, but lower areas should escape the full brunt. Only 6-10km at valley bottom.

Avalanche Summary

Nothing was seen today in the Northern Spray area.

Snowpack Summary

A few centimeters came in last night, which helped the skiing. Oddly enough, the winds haven't taken a huge toll on the treeline elevation. Great skiing was had today in sheltered treeline areas. The alpine is a different story...and not in a good way. Extensive wind transport has crossloaded most features and stripped the westerly aspects to gravel. Windslabs are widespread, and plump. Overall the snowpack is doing well with no scary layers. The Dec 9th and Nov 5th are down 45cm & 90cm at treeline.

Terrain and Travel

  • Watch for newly formed and reactive wind slabs as you transition into wind affected terrain.
  • If you are increasing your exposure to avalanche terrain, do it gradually as you gather information.

Avalanche Problems

Wind Slabs

There are new surface windslabs on all Easterly aspects today. Test them in small terrain before committing to bigger terrain.

Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Very Likely

Expected Size: 1 - 2.5

Persistent Slabs

So far the new load isn't waking this layer up, but given our uncertainty we are still calling the trigger-ability "reactive" versus stubborn Rocky areas are the most likely places to find it as a problem.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood: Possible

Expected Size: 2 - 3